DHS WCO to Strengthen the Security and Resiliency of the Global Supply Chain

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced a new partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) to enlist other nations, international bodies and the private sector in increasing the security of the global supply chain—outlining a series of new initiatives to make the system stronger, smarter and more resilient.

“Securing the global supply chain is part and parcel of securing both the lives of people around the world, and the stability of the global economy,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The United States is committed to working with our international partners and the private sector to keep this powerful engine of commerce, jobs, and prosperity from being attacked or disrupted.”

During remarks today to shipping and cargo stakeholders, security experts and government officials at the European Policy Centre, Secretary Napolitano discussed the three main elements of this international effort to strengthen the security of the global supply chain:

Preventing terrorists from exploiting the global supply chain to plan and execute attacks;

Protecting the most critical elements of the supply chain system, such as transportation hubs and related critical infrastructure, from attacks and disruptions; and

Building the resilience of the global supply chain to ensure that if something does happen, the supply chain can recover quickly.

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya also spoke at today’s event, emphasizing the important role his organization will play—in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—to build international consensus on strengthening cargo screening standards across the globe and deploying state-of-the-art technologies to better track and detect precursor chemicals. Prior to her remarks, Secretary Napolitano met with Secretary General Mikuriya to discuss and coordinate the continued collaboration between DHS and the WCO to secure the global supply chain.

“The recent air cargo incidents show the necessity for international cooperation in enhancing trade security using a risk management approach as embodied in the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards,” said WCO Secretary General Mikuriya. “Therefore I appreciate Secretary Napolitano’s efforts to address cargo security through the WCO and other international organizations,” added Mikuriya.

Secretary Napolitano highlighted DHS’ commitment to working with customs agencies and shipping companies from around the world to keep precursor chemicals that can be used to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from being trafficked by terrorists.

Currently, through Project Global Shield—launched by DHS, the World Customs Organization, INTERPOL, and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime in 2010—60 nations are sharing information with each other to ensure that chemicals entering their countries are being used in safe and legal ways, leading to successful interdictions of a number of suspicious shipments, and providing promising investigative leads on the smuggling of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Secretary Napolitano stated that, in 2011, DHS will work with our international partners to build on these successes, strengthening cargo screening standards across the globe; deploying state-of-the-art technologies to better track and detect precursors; and, in conjunction with the Departments of State and Defense, expanding and coordinating technical assistance and training to partner countries to ensure that well-developed, well-equipped customs agencies are able to do their jobs everywhere along the global supply chain.

Secretary Napolitano also emphasized DHS’ domestic efforts to address this issue, including creating a first of its kind center to coordinate all U.S. government efforts on export enforcement, and working with institutions across America where these chemicals are common – such as hospitals, labs, and beauty supply companies – to prevent their diversion for use in IEDs.

DHS now requires the screening of all cargo on passenger planes within and departing from the United States, as well as 100 percent of U.S.-bound high-risk air cargo. DHS is also working with private sector and international partners to acquire advance information about cargo before it leaves for the United States in order to identify and screen items based on risk and intelligence.

Secretary Napolitano’s visit to Belgium follows stops in Ireland, Afghanistan, Qatar and Israel. While in Belgium, she also met with top European officials to discuss international efforts to enhance global security—including cybersecurity, protecting the global supply chain, and ensuring the security of our global aviation system against threats of terrorism.